DISPLAY DEVICE
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`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
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`[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 16/983,981,
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`filed on August 3, 2020, which is a Continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 15/495,983,
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`filed on April 25, 2017, issued as U.S. Patent No. 10,733,408, which claims priority from and the
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`benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0122363, filed on September 23, 2016, which
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`are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposesas if fully set forth herein.
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`BACKGROUND
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`[0002] FIELD
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`[0003] The invention relates generally to a display device, and, more particularly, to a
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`display device including a fingerprint sensor.
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`[0004] DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND
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`[0005] As interest in displays and demandfor portable information media haveincreased,
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`research in and commercialization of display devices have been attracted more attention.
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`[0006] Recently, a display device including a touch sensorfor inputting a touch of a user
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`has been commercialized. Accordingly, the user is more conveniently capable of using the
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`display device through the touch sensor.
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`[0007] In addition, recently, a display device with a reinforced security function using
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`fingerprints has been developed.
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`[0008] The above information disclosed in this Backgroundsection is only for
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`enhancement of understanding of the background of the inventive concepts, and, therefore,it
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`may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already knownin this country to a
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`person of ordinary skill in the art.
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`SUMMARY
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`[0009] Display devices constructed according to the principles of the invention are
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`capable of enhancing a security function of the display device by including a fingerprint sensor
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`having improved sensitivity.
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`[0010] In addition, display devices constructed according to the principles of the
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`invention having improved fingerprint sensor sensitivity may be flexible display devices and
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`may be capable of sensing a touch position and a touch pressure.
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`[0011] Additional aspects will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and,
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`in part, will be apparent from the disclosure, or may be learned by practice of the inventive
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`concepts.
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`[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, a display device includes: a substrate
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`includingafirst area havingafirst light transmittance and a second area adjacentto thefirst area
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`having a secondlight transmittance; a plurality of pixels disposed on a first surface of the
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`substrate; and a fingerprint sensor disposed in the first area on a second surface of the substrate.
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`Thefirst light transmittance is greater than the second light transmittance.
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`[0013] The plurality of pixels may includeat least one first pixel in the first area and a
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`second pixel in the secondarea.
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`[0014] Thefirst pixel may include a light emitting area in which an imageis displayed
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`and a light transmission area in which a light is transmitted therethrough.
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`[0015] Thefirst pixel may includeat least one first sub-pixel disposed in the light
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`emitting area. The first sub-pixel may includea first electrode disposed on the substrate; an
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`emission layer disposed on the first electrode; and a second electrode disposed on the emission
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`layer.
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`[0016] The display device may further include an insulating layer disposed between the
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`substrate and the first electrode, wherein the insulating layer extends into the transmission area.
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`The display device may further include at least one of a pixel defining layer and passivation layer
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`disposed above the substrate, and wherein the insulating layer extends into at least one of the
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`pixel defining layer and the passivation layer. In an exemplary embodiment, thefirst electrode
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`and the second electrode may extend across the transmission area.
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`[0017] The first sub-pixel may further includeat least one structure selected from the
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`group of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron
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`injection layer, the at least one structure being disposed betweenthe first electrode and the
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`second electrode, and wherein the at least one structured may extend across the transmission
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`area.
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`[0018] The second pixel may include at least one second sub-pixel, and a size ofthe first
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`sub-pixel is smaller than a size of the second sub-pixel. According to an exemplary
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`embodiment, each of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel may emit one wavelength of
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`light selected from the group ofred light, green light, and blue light.
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`[0019] The size of the first pixel may be the sameasthe size of the second pixel, and the
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`fingerprint sensor may be a photo sensoror an ultrasonic sensor.
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`[0020] The display device may further include a first sensor disposed on the substrate to
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`sense a touch position input by a user. Further, the first sensor may be a touch sensorofa self-
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`capacitance type or a touch sensor of a mutual-capacitance type. Thefirst sensor may include a
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`first touch electrode; and a second touch electrode spaced apart from thefirst touch electrode and
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`forming a capacitance with thefirst touch electrode.
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`[0021] The first touch electrode may have a meshstructure. Thefirst touch electrode
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`may include a conductive polymer.
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`[0022] The display device may further include a second sensor disposed onthefirst
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`surface of the substrate spaced apart from the first sensor and sensing a touch pressure.
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`[0023] The second sensor may include a conductive polymer.
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`[0024] Thefirst sensor may have a hole in the first area and touch electrodes ofthe first
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`sensor may be disposed in the second area. Touch electrodes of the second sensor may include a
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`portion in the first area and a portion in the secondarea.
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`[0025] A sensing type ofthe first sensor may be different from a sensing type of the
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`second sensor.
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`[0026] At least a portion of the display device may be flexible and be bendable or
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`rollable.
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`[0027] The light transmission area maybe free of any light emitting components.
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`[0028] Thefirst surface may include a front surface of the substrate and the second
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`surface comprises a rear surface of the substrate.
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`[0029] According to another aspect of the invention, a display device includes: a
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`substrate including a first area havingafirst light transmittance and a second area adjacent to
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`the first area having a second light transmittance; a plurality of pixels disposed onafirst surface
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`of the substrate; and a first sensor disposed on thefirst surface of the substrate to sense a touch
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`position; a second sensordisposed onthe first surface of the substrate spaced apart from the
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`first sensor to sense pressure applied by touch from a user; and a fingerprint sensor disposed in
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`the first area on a second surface of the substrate. The first area includes a light emitting area
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`configured to display an imageanda light transmission area configured to transmitlight.
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`[0030] The transmission area may be free of any light emitting components.
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`[0031] Accordingto still another aspect of the invention, a display device includes: a
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`substrate including, in a plan view,a first area and a secondarea; a first sub-pixel disposed on
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`the substrate, the first sub-pixel including an emission area disposed in the first area; a second
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`sub-pixel disposed on the substrate, the second sub-pixel including an emission area disposed in
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`the second area; a transmission area disposed on the substrate, the transmission area adjacent to
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`the second sub-pixel disposed in the second area; and a sensor disposed underthe substrate, the
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`photo sensor disposed in the second area. A size of the emission area of the first sub-pixel is
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`different from a size of the emission area of the second sub-pixel.
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`[0032] The sensor may be a fingerprint sensor.
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`[0033] The fingerprint sensor may be a photo sensoror an ultrasonic sensor.
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`[0034] The display device may further include: an insulating layer on the substrate. The
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`transmission area may be formed by removingat least a portion of the insulating layer.
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`[0035] The second sub-pixel mayinclude: a first electrode disposed on the substrate; an
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`organic layer disposed on thefirst electrode; and a second electrode disposed on the emission
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`layer. The second electrode may extend from the emission area of the second sub-pixel toward
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`the transmission area, and the transmission area may include opening formed by the second
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`electrode of the second sub-pixel.
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`[0036] The display device may further include: a third sub-pixel disposed on the
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`substrate, the third sub-pixel including an emission area disposed in the second area. Each of the
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`second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel may include: a first electrode disposed on the substrate;
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`an emission layer disposed onthe first electrode; and a second electrode disposed on the
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`emission layer. The second electrode of the second sub-pixel and the second electrode of the
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`third sub-pixel may be connected, and the transmission area may include opening formedby the
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`second electrode of the second sub-pixel and the secondelectrode the third sub-pixel.
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`[0037] The second sub-pixel mayinclude: a first electrode disposed on the substrate; an
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`organic layer disposed on thefirst electrode; and a second electrode disposed on the emission
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`layer. The organic layer may not overlap the transmission area in the plan view.
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`[0038] At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode may extend into the
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`transmission area and overlap the transmission area in the plan view.
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`[0039] The display device may further include: a touch sensor disposed on the substrate,
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`the touch sensor comprising sensing electrodes. The sensing electrodes may not overlap the
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`transmission area in the plan view.
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`[0040] The size of the emission area ofthe first sub-pixel may be larger than the size of
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`the emission area of the second sub-pixel.
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`[0041] Accordingto still another aspect of the invention, a display device includes: a
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`substrate including, in a plan view,a first area and a secondarea; a first sub-pixel disposed on
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`the substrate, the first sub-pixel including an emission area disposed in the first area; a second
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`sub-pixel disposed on the substrate, the second sub-pixel including an emission area disposed in
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`the second area; a transmission area disposed on the substrate, the transmission area adjacent to
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`the second sub-pixel disposed in the second area; and a touch sensor disposed on the substrate,
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`the touch sensor comprising sensing electrodes. At least a portion of the second area comprises
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`an area wherethe sensing electrodes and the transmission area may be not overlapped in the plan
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`view.
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`[0042] The sensing electrodes may be not disposed in the secondarea.
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`[0043] The sensor may be a fingerprint sensor.
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`[0044] The fingerprint sensor may be a photo sensoror an ultrasonic sensor.
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`[0045] Accordingly, display devices constructed according to the principles of the
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`invention provide an enhanced security function by including an improved fingerprint sensor.
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`[0046] Further, exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a high-quality display
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`device in which resolution of an area including the fingerprint sensor is substantially the same as
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`resolution of an area not including the fingerprint sensor.
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`[0047] In addition, exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a display device
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`which is capable of sensing a touch position and a touch pressure while sensing the fingerprint
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`thereby enhancing convenienceofuse.
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`[0048] Accordingto still another aspect of the invention, a display device includes: a
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`display panel to display an image includinga first area and a secondarea; a fingerprint sensor
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`disposed underthe display panel in the first area; a touch sensor to sense a touch position
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`according to a touch of a user on the display panel in the first area and the second area; a sensor
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`control unit to control an operation of the fingerprint sensor and the touch sensor; a display
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`driving unit to control an image display operation of the display panel; and an identification
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`pattern disposedin a portion ofthe first area to recognize a position of a fingerprint sensor area
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`to the user; wherein the sensor control unit sequentially or simultaneously is configured to drive
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`the touch sensorandthe fingerprint sensor, and wherein thefirst area is enclosed by the second
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`area in a plan view.
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`[0049] The display device may further include a chip on film, wherein the fingerprint
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`sensor is connected to the sensor control unit through the chip on film.
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`[0050] Accordingto still another aspect of the invention, a display device includes: a
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`display panel to display an imageincludinga first area and a secondarea; a fingerprint sensor
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`disposed underthe display panel in the first area; a touch sensor to sense a touch position
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`according to a touch ofa user on the display panel in the first area and the second area; a control
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`unit to control an operation of the fingerprint sensor, the touch sensor andthe display panel; and
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`an identification pattern disposed in a portion ofthe first area to recognize a position of a
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`fingerprint sensor area to the user; wherein the control unit sequentially or simultaneously is
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`configured to drive the touch sensor, the fingerprint sensor and the display panel, and wherein
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`the first area is enclosed by the second areain a plan view.
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`[0051] The display device may further include a chip on film, wherein the fingerprint
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`sensor is connected to the control unit through the chip on film.
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`[0052] Accordingto still another aspect of the invention, a display device includes: a
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`display panel to display an imageincludinga first area and a secondarea; a fingerprint sensor
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`disposed underthe display panel in the first area; a touch sensor to sense a touch position
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`according to a touch of a user on the display panel in the first area and the second area; a sensor
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`control unit to control an operation of the fingerprint sensor and the touch sensor; and a display
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`driving unit to control an image display operation of the display panel, wherein the sensor
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`control unit sequentially or simultaneously is configured to drive the touch sensor and the
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`fingerprint sensor, and wherein the first area is enclosed by the second area in a plan view.
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`[0053] The display may further include a chip on film, wherein the fingerprint sensor1s
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`connected to the sensor control unit through the chip on film.
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`[0054] The display device may further include an identification pattern disposed in a
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`portion of the first area to recognize a position of a fingerprint sensorarea to the user.
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`[0055] Accordingto still another aspect of the invention, a display device includes: a
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`display panel to display an imageincludinga first area and a secondarea; a fingerprint sensor
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`disposed underthe display panel in the first area; a touch sensor to sense a touch position
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`according to a touch ofa user on the display panel in the first area and the second area; a control
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`unit to control an operation of the fingerprint sensor, touch sensor andthe display panel; and
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`wherein the control unit sequentially or simultaneously is configured to drive the touch sensor,
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`the fingerprint sensor and the display panel, wherein the first area is enclosed by the second area
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`in a plan view.
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`[0056] The display device may further include a chip on film, wherein the fingerprint
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`sensor 1s connected to the control unit through the chip on film.
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`[0057] The display device may further include an identification pattern disposed in a
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`portion of the first area to recognize a position of a fingerprint sensorarea to the user.
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`[0058] Accordingto still another aspect of the invention, a display device includes: a
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`display panel to display an imageincludinga first area and a secondarea; a fingerprint sensor
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`disposed underthe display panel in the first area; a touch sensor to sense a touch position
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`according to a touch of a user on the display panel in the first area and the second area; a sensor
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`control unit to control an operation of the fingerprint sensor; a display driving unit to control an
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`image display operation of the display panel; and an identification pattern disposed in a portion
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`of the first area to recognize a position of a fingerprint sensor area to the user; whereinthefirst
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`area is enclosed by the second area in a plan view.
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`[0059] Accordingto still another aspect of the invention, a display device includes: a
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`substrate including, in a plan view,a first area and a second area adjacentto the first area; a
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`plurality of pixels disposed on the substrate to display an image; a fingerprint sensor disposed in
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`the first area below the substrate; a touch sensor to sense a touch position according to a touch of
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`a user on the substrate in the first area and the second area; an insulating layer on the substrate; a
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`pixel defining layer on the substrate; and a passivation layer on the substrate, wherein the
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`plurality of pixels include at least one first pixel in the first area and a secondpixel in the second
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`area, wherein thefirst pixel includesat least one first sub-pixel, wherein the second pixel
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`includes at least one second sub-pixel, wherein each ofthe first sub-pixel and the second sub-
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`pixel emits one wavelength of light selected from the group ofred light, green light, and blue
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`light, wherein the first sub-pixel includes: a first electrode disposed on the substrate; an emission
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`layer disposed on thefirst electrode; and a second electrode disposed on the emission layer,
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`wherein the insulating layer is disposed between the substrate and the first electrode, wherein the
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`insulating layer overlaps the pixel defining layer and the passivation layerin the first area and in
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`the second area in a plan view, wherein the first sub-pixel further includes at least one structure
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`selected from the group of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport
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`layer, and an electron injection layer, the at least one structure being disposed betweenthefirst
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`electrode and the second electrode, wherein a size of the first pixel is substantially the same as a
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`size of the second pixel, wherein the first area is enclosed by the second area in a plan view,
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`wherein the touch sensoris a self-capacitance type or a mutual-capacitance type, and wherein the
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`touch sensorincludes: a first touch electrode; and a second touch electrode spaced apart from the
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`first touch electrode and forming a capacitance with the first touch electrode.
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`[0060] Each ofthe first touch electrode and the second touch electrode may include a
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`meshstructure, wherein each ofthe first touch electrode and the second touch electrode may
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`include a metal, and wherein each ofthe first touch electrode and the second touch electrode may
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`include aluminum andtitanium.
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`[0061] The display device may further include an identification pattern disposed in a
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`portion of the first area to recognize a position of a fingerprint sensorarea to the user.
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`[0062] The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are
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`exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the claimed
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`subject matter.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0063] The accompanying drawings, which are includedto provide a further
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`understanding of the inventive concepts, and are incorporated in and constitute a part ofthis
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`specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts, and, together with the
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`description, serve to explain principles of the inventive concepts.
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`[0064] FIG. 1A is a plan view ofa display device constructed accordingto the principles
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`of the invention.
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`[0065] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I' of FIG. 1A.
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`[0066] FIG. 2 is a block diagram graphically illustrating some of the components of an
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`exemplary display device according to exemplary embodiments.
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`[0067] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary display panel constructed
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`according to the principles of the invention.
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`[0068] FIG. 4Ais a plan view illustrating a first pixel of FIG. 3 rotated by 90 degrees
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`from the position shown in FIG.3.
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`[0069] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a first embodimentofthe first pixel taken
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`along a line II-II' of FIG. 4A.
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`[0070] FIG. 4Cis a cross-sectional view of a second embodimentofthefirst pixel taken
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`along a line II-II' of FIG. 4A.
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`[0071] FIG. 5A is a plan view illustrating a second pixel in FIG.3 rotated by 90 degree s
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`from the position shown in FIG.3, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken alongaline III-
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`III' of FIG. 5A.
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`[0072] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary display device taken along a line
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`correspondingto a line I-I' of FIG. 1.
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`[0073] FIG. 7 is a block diagram graphically illustrating some of the components of an
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`exemplary display device according to exemplary embodiments.
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`[0074] FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary first sensor of a self-capacitance type that may
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`be used in display devices of the invention.
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`[0075] FIG. 8B illustrates an exemplary first sensor of a mutual-capacitance type that
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`may be used in display devices of the invention.
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`[0076] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary display device taken along a
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`line correspondingtoaline I-I' of FIG. 1.
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`[0077] FIG. 10 is a block diagram graphically illustrating some of the components of an
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`exemplary display device according to exemplary embodiments.
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`[0078] FIGS. 11A to 11C are plan viewsillustrating a second sensor according to
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`exemplary embodiments.
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`[0079] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary display device taken along
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`a line correspondingto a line I-I' of FIG. 1.
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`[0080] FIG. 13 is a plan viewillustrating a first sensor in the display device of FIG. 12.
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`[0081] FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a display device constructed according
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`to the principles of the invention.
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`[0082] FIG. 15A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the display device of FIG. 14 ina
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`folded position.
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`[0083] FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the display device of FIG. 14 ina
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`rolled position.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
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`[0084] In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific
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`details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various exemplary
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`embodiments. It is apparent, however, that various exemplary embodiments maybe practiced
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`without these specific details or with one or more equivalent arrangements. In other instances,
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`well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid
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`unnecessarily obscuring various exemplary embodiments.
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`[0085] In the accompanying figures, the size and relative sizes of layers, films, panels,
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`regions, etc., may be exaggerated for clarity and descriptive purposes. Also, like reference
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`numerals denote like elements.
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`[0086] When an elementorlayeris referred to as being “on,”
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`“connectedto,” or
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`“coupled to” another elementor layer, it may be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other
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`elementor layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. When, however, an element
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`or layeris referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to”
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`another elementor layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. For the purposes of
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`this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” and “at least one selected from the group consisting
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`of X, Y, and Z” may be construed as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more
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`of X, Y, and Z, such as, for instance, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. Like numbersreferto like
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`elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of
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`one or more ofthe associated listed items.
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`[0087] Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various
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`elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions,
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`layers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are usedto distinguish
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`one element, component, region, layer, and/or section from another element, component, region,
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`layer, and/or section. Thus,a first element, component, region, layer, and/or section discussed
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`below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, and/or section without
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`departing from the teachings of the disclosure.
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`[0088] Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,”
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`“above,
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`upper,”
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`and the like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes, and, thereby, to describe one element
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`or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the drawings.
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`Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of an apparatusin use,
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`operation, and/or manufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. For
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`example, if the apparatus in the drawingsis turned over, elements described as “below” or
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`“beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or
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`features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and
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`below. Furthermore, the apparatus may be otherwiseoriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees orat
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`other orientations), and, as such, the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted
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`accordingly.
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`[0089] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
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`embodiments andis not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms, “a,”
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`“an,
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`and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates
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`otherwise. Moreover, the terms “comprises,”
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`“comprising,”
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`“includes,” and/or “including,”
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`when usedin this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
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`operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or
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`addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or
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`groups thereof.
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`[0090] Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to sectional
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`illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized exemplary embodiments and/or
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`intermediate structures. As such, variations from the shapes ofthe illustrations as a result, for
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`example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, exemplary
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`embodiments disclosed herein should not be construed as limited to the particular illustrated
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`shapes of regions, but are to include deviations in shapesthat result from, for instance,
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`manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle will, typically, have
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`rounded or curved features and/or a gradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a
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`binary change from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried region formed by
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`implantation may result in some implantation in the region between the buried region and the
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`surface through which the implantation takes place. Thus, the regionsillustrated in the drawings
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`are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intendedto illustrate the actual shape of a region
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`of a device and are not intended to be limiting.
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`[0091] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used
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`herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to
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`which this disclosure is a part. Terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries,
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`should be interpreted as having a meaningthat is consistent with their meaning in the context of
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`the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless
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`expressly so defined herein.
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`[0092] FIG. 1A is a plan view of a display device constructed accordingto the principles
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`of the invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken alongaline I-I' of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2
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`is a block diagram graphically illustrating some of the components of an exemplary display
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`device according to exemplary embodiments.
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`[0093] Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, an exemplary display device DP includes a
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`display panel PNL and a window WDdisposed on a front surface of a display panel PNL.
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`[0094] The display panel PNL displays arbitrary visual information, for example a text, a
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`video, a photo, 2 dimension or 3 dimension image,etc. to the front surface. The type of the
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`display panel PNL that displays the imageis not particularly important and the invention is not
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`limited to a specific type of display device.
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`[0095] Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, the display panel PNL is described as an
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`organic light emitting display panel as an example. However, the kind of the display panel PNL
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`is not limited thereto, and other display panels PNL may be used in a scope of the invention.
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`[0096] The display panel PNL may be provided various shapes, for example a
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`rectangular-plate shape having twopairs of sides parallel with each other. In the case where the
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`display panel PNL is providedas the rectangular-plate shape, one pair of sides selected from two
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`pairs of sides may be longer than the other pair of sides. In an exemplary embodiment, the shape
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`of the display panel PNL is described as a rectangular shape having a pair of long sides and a
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`pair of short sides for convenience of description.
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`[0097] However, the shape of the display panel PNL is not limited thereto, and the
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`display panel PNL mayhave various shapes. For example, the display panel PNL may have
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`various shapes such as an closed polygon including a side madeofa straightline, a circle, an
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`ellipse, and the like including a side madeof a curvedline, and a semicircle, a semi-ellipse, and
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`the like including a side made ofa straight line and a curved line. In an exemplary embodiment,
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`whenthe display panel PNL hassides madeofa straightline, at least a portion of edges of each
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`shape may be madeofthe curved line. For example, when the display panel PNL has a
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`rectangular shape, a portion, at which adjacent straight lines meet each other, may be replaced
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`with a curvedline having a predetermined curvature. That is, an apex of a rectangular shape
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`may be made ofa curved side of which opposite side adjacent to each other is connected to two
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`straight sides and which hasa predetermined curvature.
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`[0098] The curvature may be varied according to position. For example, the curvature
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`may be varied according to a starting position of the curvedline, a length of the curvedline, etc.
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`[0099] An entire portion or at least one portion of the display panel PNL may have
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`flexibility as is known in the art. For example, the display panel PNL may haveflexibility in an
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`entire area, or may haveflexibility in one area correspondingto a flexible area.
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`[0100] The display panel PNL may display an image on a front surface. The display
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`panel PNLincludesa display area DA displaying an image via a display unit PP and a non-
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`display area NDA disposedat least one side of the display area DA. For example, the non-
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`display area NDA mayenclose the display area DA.
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`[0101] The shape of the display area DA maycorrespondto the shape ofthe display
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`device DP. For example, like the shape of the display device DP, the display area DA may have
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`various shapes such as a closed polygonincluding a side madeofa straightline, a circle, an
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`ellipse, and the like including a side madeof a curved line, and a semicircle, a semi-ellipse, and
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`the like including a side made ofa straight line and a curved line. In exemplary embodiments,
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`the display area DA may havea rectangular shape.
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`[0102] The display panel PNL includesa first area Al for sensing the fingerprint and a
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`second area A2 adjacentto the first area Al. In exemplary embodiments, the size of the first
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`area Al may be smaller than the size of the second area A2. Thefirst area Al may have a size
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`and a shape whichare capable of sensing a fingerprint of a user with means knownin the art.
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`In
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`exemplary embodiments, the first area Al is shown and described as a rectangular shape for
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`convenience of description, but is not limited thereto, and could have other shapes, such as a
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`circle, an ellipse, a semicircle, a polygon, etc. The first area Al may be enclosed by the second
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`area A2, but is not limited thereto. In exemplary embodiments,the first area Al may be only
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`disposed at one side of the second area A2. Thefirst area Al may be disposedin the display
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`area DA. The second area A2 may be disposed